Axle-lubricator.



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H IIIIII Hd iirjesszs l UNiTED STATES PATENT Finca.

JAMES CLEAVENGER, OF VAYNESBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

AXLE-LUBRICATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,156, dated July 4,1899.

Application led March 3 l, 1 8 9 8.

To all whom, it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES CLEAVENGER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waynesburg, in the county of Greeneand State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Axle-Lubricator, of whichthe following is a specification.

The purpose of the present invention is the provision of 'a simple andeffective device which can be readily applied to the hub of any ordinaryvehicle-wheel for lubricating the spindle or axle without requiring thercinoval of the wheel, as is generally practiced when it is required tolubricate the axle.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the inventionreference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the followingdescription.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to afull disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of anaxle-lubricator embodying the features of this invention, the same beingshown applied to the hub of a vehicle-wheel. Fig. 2 is a detail.perspective view of the lubricator. Fig. 3 is a detail view of theplunger and parts intimately associated therewith dismembered and ar'-ranged in a group. Fig. 4L is a vertical central section of thelubricator on a larger scale, showing more clearly the relation of theparts.

Corresponding and like parts arereferred to in the following descriptionand indicated in the views of the drawings by the same referencecharacters.

The lubricatorcomprises a tube 1, of a length to reach the axle-box whenin position. This tube is externally threaded to make positiveconnection with the walls of a bore formed in a side of the hub 3. Ahead 2 is provided at the outer end of the tube and is made angular orotherwise constructed to receive a wrench or like tool, by means Vofwhich the tube is screwed into the bore of the hub. A washer 4 isinterposed between the inner or lower end of the tube l and the axle-box5, so as to secure a tight joint and prevent the oil from soaking intothe wooden hub. The tube is Serial No. 675,950. (No model.)

internally threaded at its outer end to receive the threaded portion ofa flanged plug 6, by means of which the tube is closed, therebypreventing the escape of lubricant or the entrance of dust or otherforeign matter into the tube. The flanged plu g has a win ged projection7, to be grasped between the fingers of the hand when it is required totighten or loosen the plug.

A plunger operates within and fills the tube l and serves to expel thelubricant supplied to the tube and force it through an opening in theaxle-box inline with the tube l, whereby the oil is distributed orcaused to pass to the parts to be lubricated. This plunger consists of astem 8, having a collar 9 near its upper or outer end, to engage withthe inner side of the plug 6 to permit of the free and independentrotation of the latter, a rubber tube lO, mounted upon the lower endportion of the stem, and a washer ll, placed upon the lower end of thestem and confining the rubber tube lO between it and the collar 9, thelower end of the stem being upset or riveted, so as to retain the washerll in place. The rubber tube lO corresponds with the internal di--ameter of the tube 1 and fits snugly therein, and when the plunger is inplace and the plug 6 is screwed home the inner or lower end of theplunger is aboutin the plane of the inner end of the tube l and fillsthe latter, thereby forcing the lubricant therefrom and preventing anyreturning to the tube should the latter occupy the lowest position withreference to the axle.

The swivel connection between the stem 8 and the plug 6 admits of thelatter making screw threaded connection with the tube, whereas the bodyof the plunger is enabled to move in and out without receiving anyrotary movement.

The upper end portion of the stem 8 is reduced, forming the reducedterminal portion a and the shoulders b and c, the latter supporting thecollar 9. The reduced terminal portion a passes vertically through acentral opening of the plug 6, and its projecting end is upset orriveted to retain said plug in position, as indicated most clearly inFig. 4. The part 10 constitutes, in effect, an elastic plunger and is acylindrical block of indiarubber of such` relative dimensions as tonearly or quite fill the tube 1, so as to expel all the lubricanttherefrom when the plunger is forced home. This elastic plunger isconned between the collar 9 and the washer ll and is compressible byupsetting the lower end of the stem 8 more or less, whereby a tight litcan be secured and maintained between the plunger and its tube l.

The lubricator being applied about as shown in Fig. l and it beingrequired to lubricate the axle, the wheel is turned so as to bring thedevice into an upright position, after which the flanged plug and theplunger connected therewith are removed. A quantity ot` oil is pouredinto the tube, after which the plunger is inserted into the tube andpressed therein, whereby the lubricant is expelled through the openingin communication with the tube and caused to pass to the parts to belubricated. The flanged plug is made fast by the screw-thread connectionbetween it and the tube, and this screw-thread connection enables theplunger to be given the final forward movement, so as to expel the lastportion of lubricant remaining in the tube. The flange of the plugoverlapping the outer end of the tube prevents the ingress of dust orforeign lnatter into the screw-thread joint formed between the iiangedplug and tube.

Having thus described the invention, what ger-stem provided near one endwith a pair of concentric shoulders in different planes, a solidcylindrical rubber plungersecured upon the stem and having a slidingregistering fit within the tube, said plunger being of a size nearlyequaling the entire interior area of the tube, an eXteriorly-threadedclosure-plug revolubly mounted upon one end of the stem beyond theplunger and bearing directly upon one of the shoulders ot' the stem, anda collar or disk interposed between the contiguous ends of the plungerand plug and fitting upon the other'of said shoulders of the stem, saidcollar or disk permitting a free and independent rotation of the plug,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiiXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES CLE AVENGER.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. BEALL, L. L. RICH.

